Jay A Olson1, Léah Suissa-Rocheleau2, Michael Lifshitz3, Amir Raz4,5, Samuel P L Veissière4,6. 1. Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 1033 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, QC, H3A 1A1, Canada. jay.olson@mail.mcgill.ca. 2. Department of Psychology, McGill University, 2001 Avenue McGill College, Montreal, QC, H3A 1G1, Canada. 3. Department of Anthropology, Stanford University, Main Quad, Building 50, 450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA. 4. Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 1033 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, QC, H3A 1A1, Canada. 5. Institute for Interdisciplinary Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Chapman University, 9401 Jeronimo Road, Irvine, CA, 92618, USA. 6. Culture, Mind, and Brain Lab, McGill University, 1033 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, QC, H3A 1A1, Canada.
Abstract
RATIONALE: Is it possible to have a psychedelic experience from a placebo alone? Most psychedelic studies find few effects in the placebo control group, yet these effects may have been obscured by the study design, setting, or analysis decisions. OBJECTIVE: We examined individual variation in placebo effects in a naturalistic environment resembling a typical psychedelic party. METHODS:Thirty-three students completed a single-arm study ostensibly examining how a psychedelic drug affects creativity. The 4-h study took place in a group setting with music, paintings, coloured lights, and visual projections. Participants consumed a placebo that we described as a drug resembling psilocybin, which is found in psychedelic mushrooms. To boost expectations, confederates subtly acted out the stated effects of the drug and participants were led to believe that there was no placebo control group. The participants later completed the 5-Dimensional Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale, which measures changes in conscious experience. RESULTS: There was considerable individual variation in the placebo effects; many participants reported no changes while others showed effects with magnitudes typically associated with moderate or high doses of psilocybin. In addition, the majority (61%) of participants verbally reported some effect of the drug. Several stated that they saw the paintings on the walls "move" or "reshape" themselves, others felt "heavy… as if gravity [had] a stronger hold", and one had a "come down" before another "wave" hit her. CONCLUSION: Understanding how context and expectations promote psychedelic-like effects, even without the drug, will help researchers to isolate drug effects and clinicians to maximise their therapeutic potential.
RCT Entities:
RATIONALE: Is it possible to have a psychedelic experience from a placebo alone? Most psychedelic studies find few effects in the placebo control group, yet these effects may have been obscured by the study design, setting, or analysis decisions. OBJECTIVE: We examined individual variation in placebo effects in a naturalistic environment resembling a typical psychedelic party. METHODS: Thirty-three students completed a single-arm study ostensibly examining how a psychedelic drug affects creativity. The 4-h study took place in a group setting with music, paintings, coloured lights, and visual projections. Participants consumed a placebo that we described as a drug resembling psilocybin, which is found in psychedelic mushrooms. To boost expectations, confederates subtly acted out the stated effects of the drug and participants were led to believe that there was no placebo control group. The participants later completed the 5-Dimensional Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale, which measures changes in conscious experience. RESULTS: There was considerable individual variation in the placebo effects; many participants reported no changes while others showed effects with magnitudes typically associated with moderate or high doses of psilocybin. In addition, the majority (61%) of participants verbally reported some effect of the drug. Several stated that they saw the paintings on the walls "move" or "reshape" themselves, others felt "heavy… as if gravity [had] a stronger hold", and one had a "come down" before another "wave" hit her. CONCLUSION: Understanding how context and expectations promote psychedelic-like effects, even without the drug, will help researchers to isolate drug effects and clinicians to maximise their therapeutic potential.
Authors: Gabrielle Agin-Liebes; Trevor F Haas; Rafael Lancelotta; Malin V Uthaug; Johannes G Ramaekers; Alan K Davis Journal: ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci Date: 2021-03-23
Authors: Keri Mans; Hannes Kettner; David Erritzoe; Eline C H M Haijen; Mendel Kaelen; Robin L Carhart-Harris Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2021-06-29 Impact factor: 4.157